Clarence Titlon is actually from Omaha, but there is an important Minnesota connection. The music is some great sounding storytelling and you can check it out on Thursday, June 12 at the Uptown VFW.
Please tell us about your band, how you came to music and your Minnesota connection.
We are five guys based out of Omaha playing Americana/Alt-Country/Country Rock/Rockin’ Country. Two electrics, one acoustic, pedal steel, bass and drums. That’s six instruments if you were counting. Corey doubles on the steel.
Music came to me from the AM radio of a Chevrolet Beauville Sportvan. The heater died out and there was never any A/C but thankfully, the radio kept working.
The MN connection would be me. Grew up in Cottage Grove – yes, that’s right, the same hometown as Seann William Scott – Stifler from American Pie! Attended the University of MN about the same time The Jayhawks were slogging through three sets a night at the 400 Bar and the Five Corners Saloon. Played in Minneapolis bands Betty Drake, The Beatifics, John Eller and the DT’s, The Sycamores, The Leatherwoods (for a minute or two), and The Pigeonholes. Still have many friends and family there, so I hope we will have the hometown crowd there at the VFW! – Paul Novak (guitar vocals)
2. The new album, Queen of the Brawl, is full of stories that are well-told and sound great. I just finished a road trip with a kid (Portland OR to Las Vegas – a weird one for two Midwesterners), so I think I was especially ripe for the listening. Friant is one song that really catches my attention. Can you tell me about the inspiration?
“Friant” reflects on a trip I made years ago from Denver to Fresno during a spring storm that had shut down the front range, so we went south to find safe passage. In a hurry for work, towing a giant trailer hauling way too light of boat made the drive harrowing at best… downright dangerous at its worst. Meanwhile, all I could do was marvel at the scenery… daydream about Navajo country, Route 66, etc…until it was my turn to drive. Upon arrival the trip got even more hectic as the job was to study a river that was flooding like a bastard. – Chris Weber (guitar)
You worked with a few special guests (Marty Stuart on Fred’s Colt and Presley Tucker on Flyway Café and Pretty Things). How was it to work with them? And how are things different when you work with a featured guest?
To say we worked with Marty and Presley is not really accurate. We sent finished tracks down to Nashville asking/begging for input wherever they saw fit. What came back blew our minds, and put us back in the studio making sure our parts got out of their parts’ ways.
Marty, we had met a few times before, opening for the Superlatives when they came through town. Presley, we hadn’t met before, but now consider a kindred spirit. After playing a few gigs with her both at home and in Nashville, she’s like the sister we never had. -Chris Weber (guitar)
Our Love Rings True is such a lovely song, which ironically isn’t always the case when folks write about love. Which is easier to write a “happy song” or a “sad song” or does it matter much?
Well, first off, thank you very much. I wrote it, but the band really knocked this one out of the park, especially love Chris’ baritone guitar solo! I think it’s harder to write “happy” or “positive”, especially love songs. It’s difficult to be sincere without sounding too syrupy or schmaltzy. I am just now starting to get comfortable with the word “love” in the lyrics. That last verse about “moments of doubt” was very consciously put there to ground this one a little bit. – Paul Novak (guitar vocals)
Paul, you know my stance on love songs… love is dead. I thought OLRT was about a dog…Happy vs sad song? I split the difference and write a mad song…. -Chris Weber (guitar)
Please tell us about the Minnesota release of the new album.
We are playing at the Minneapolis Uptown VFW on Thursday, June 12th, on a great bill with The Gasoline Lollipops from Colorado and hometowner Becky Kapell. We will be packing vinyl copies of our new record Queen of the Brawl-available for the first time! Paul Novak (guitar vocals)
Mostly Minnesota 